Lopresti: Even a loss is progress for Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.
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Losing hurt, but at least that's normal. Maybe now, the Penn State Nittany Lions can just be a football team again, worried about turnovers and defense, like everybody else. Then again, how long will it take before Penn State can be like everybody else? Longer, probably, than the eye can see.

By Andrew Weber, US Presswire

Penn State Nittany Lions center Miles Dieffenbach (65), John Urschel (64), Shawney Kersey (81) and Matt Stankiewitch (54) celebrate with Matt Lehman (84) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State Nittany Lions center Miles Dieffenbach (65), John Urschel (64), Shawney Kersey (81) and Matt Stankiewitch (54) celebrate with Matt Lehman (84) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Ohio Bobcats at Beaver Stadium.

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But this was a start, if an ugly one. The new age began Saturday, with a 24-14 loss to Ohio, and a name chanted from the stands: "Bill O'Brien."

The new age began with a moment of silence before the game for the victims of sexual child abuse, but not for Joe Paterno.

The new age began with strange sights. Player names on the backs of their uniforms, nearly 10,000 empty seats in Beaver Stadium, and Sue Paterno attending her first game as a widow. More than 600 athletes from virtually every varsity sport on the field before kickoff, to say to the football team that they are all in this together.

It would have been nice for the assemblage had the new age started with a victory. Not in the script. Ohio shredded the Nittany Lions for 499 yards and summarily wiped out a 14-3 Penn State halftime lead. If this portended the future, it is a scary one for Happy Valley.

"It starts with me and coaching better," said O'Brien, whose brief, taciturn responses were a spot-on imitation of his old boss, Bill Belichick.

What might Paterno have thought of Saturday's effort?

"I have no idea."

But the Nittany Lions' pain came from lousy pass defense and not another scandal revelation. Progress, in a way, anyway, even if a mood-killer for an impassioned audience.

"It was very emotional for us and for everybody in the stadium," quarterback Matt McGloin said. "I apologize to all of them for not getting a win."

The new age began with a dichotomy of tone in the pre-game streets outside. Fervent excitement (especially the students) and seething anger (a lot of the adults).

There were T-shirts and placards of hope and support, as the Nittany Lions left their darkest offseason behind.

"Restore the Roar."

" We are… still proud."

"You stayed with us… we stand with you!"

And yet there were the signs of deep fury against the NCAA for its sanctions, the news media for its coverage, the school administration for taking down the Paterno statue.

By 9:30 a.m., thousands had packed around the south entrance, to welcome the arriving team with high fives and deep roars.

But there was energy left for several — people with blue shirts and red faces — to shout livid curses at an ESPN crew.

On the east side of the stadium, where the Paterno statue once stood, a man walked by at 8:20 a.m. and placed a small Paterno bobblehead on the grassy knoll. Dozens flocked around to take pictures.

Chris Bartnik, a 1991 graduate, dropped by with his own cardboard replica of the statue.

"I'm excited about the new chapter of Penn State football," he said. "But I think it's unfair to pretend Joe Paterno never existed."

Complicated feelings, for a story that long ago stopped being simple.

"Fifty-three years a season ticket holder," Leo Berzinki sighed, "and I never thought I'd see something like this."

In the silence before kickoff, the announcer called for a "moment of reflection."

So, on this dawn of the new age, what should we reflect?

Perhaps how, when you stand back and look at this whole unspeakable mess, it is mind-boggling the damage one former assistant coach inflicted in various forms upon thousands.

Perhaps how we will not know for years the final cost to Penn State. Saturday suggested there will be hard days ahead on the field.

"It's been an emotional year for us," guard John Urschel said "We were extremely happy to get out there and get back to playing football. Obviously we were not happy with the results.

"But one game doesn't make or break a season."

The new age began with a catch in the end zone by Bill Belton, and since the NCAA sanctions wiped out everything back through 1998, you could officially say it was Penn State's first touchdown since 1997.

By the way, know who remains the quarterback in Penn State's last official win? Mike McQueary, the former assistant coach who once came across Jerry Sandusky in the shower room.

The echoes from the nightmare will not go away, can't go away. But it's football season, unsightly loss or not. Even defeat by a MAC school is better than the past 10 months.

"I don't have any trepidation," O'Brien said of the job ahead. But if he ever wondered what he gotten himself into, he understands now.

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